A viral video shows a maskless mother talking back to a Lantana, Florida, police officer after the officer asked her to leave a public library. Reddit users dubbed the woman, who argued with the officer from a table in the library’s children’s section, a “Karen.”
The mother, who remains unidentified, recorded the police officer asking her to leave. She says in the video, “I wasn’t bothering anyone, madam.” The officer responds, “I think it’s time for you to wrap up and leave for today. I think coming back another day may be your best option.”
The officer tells the woman that she “clearly caused a disturbance.” The woman says that the librarian only called because she “would not put a mask on.” The officer tells her she can check out her books and leave.
The woman remains seated while the officer tries to get her to leave and repeats that she is “not breaking any laws.” An individual in the background says that the behavior “is not setting a good example” for her child.
The woman eventually stands and grabs her things and says, “This is the country that we live in now.” She adds, “This is straight-up discrimination.”
The video was posted on Twitter on Sunday. One Twitter user criticized the officer and wrote she “should be ashamed.” Another wrote, “We are losing our freedom.”
On Reddit, commenters blasted the maskless woman and called her behavior “pathetic stupidity.” Another individual wrote, “These people want to be oppressed so fucking bad.”
The Lantana Police Department did not immediately respond to the Daily Dot’s request for comment.